A partnership against diabetes

November is American Diabetes Month. While pleased that this designation brings attention and awareness to the issue of diabetes, I am disappointed that we need to have such months.

Our United Way of Central Massachusetts, in partnership with the American Diabetes Association, Joslin Diabetes Center, MassBio, and led by Novo Nordisk, co-sponsored “Changing Diabetes Day” yesterday at the Massachusetts Statehouse. We gathered with those afflicted and affected by diabetes — children and families, adults from all corners of our commonwealth.

We will advocate together — for improved management and treatment, for awareness and prevention, to ensure people with diabetes are not discriminated against, for research and a cure.

I come to this work professionally. Diabetes takes a huge toll on our society and on our community. It is estimated that more than 25 million Americans are affected with diabetes, and that the cost of diabetes exceeds $174 billion annually. It is believed that close to 500,000 residents of the commonwealth live with diabetes.

A cause of the growth of diabetes is obesity; more troubling is the acceleration of childhood obesity in America and in the commonwealth. We believe — we know — that when Americans exercise and eat healthily they reduce the possibility of obesity and reduce the risk of type II diabetes.

These statistics compelled us at the United Way to include a health focus in our strategic plan; to bring awareness and attention to the co-joined issues of obesity and diabetes and to advocate and act in ways to prevent their growth.

I also come to this issue personally. Our son Colin — a wonderful young man of 12, an athlete, a good student and a warm and friendly kid — was diagnosed with type I diabetes when he was 53 weeks old. Most of his life has been living with this disease. He has learned a different vocabulary that includes such terms as carb ratio, bolus, basal rate, and “how high are you?” in relation to his blood sugars.

Colin has lived with his parents attending every birthday party he has ever been invited to and most sports practices, too. He has become ill and vomited when too high. He has been awakened in the middle of the night to test his sugar. Simply, the normal developmental life of a 12-year-old boy has been disrupted and impacted because of this disease. And then — then we had a day this summer that we will never forget…

It was a beautiful day, like so many in July, sunny and blue sky. Colin attended a day camp all day and that evening he had a baseball game. As the game progressed, as we tested his blood sugar throughout the game, he was tracking high. We responded by giving him boluses to bring him down into range. That night he had a second dinner and went to bed with a blood sugar level of 120, a good number.

Around 1:30 a.m., we heard a thud. We found Colin on the floor, his blood sugar dangerously low, and in the beginnings of a seizure. We immediately administered liquid sugar to him and called 911. He was conscious by the time the ambulance arrived just minutes later; he stabilized in the hospital and we were home by 5 a.m. that morning.

Colin’s seizure reminded us that diabetes is like a terrorist who comes in the middle of the night to create havoc in all of our lives. Colin’s seizure reminded us that, with diabetes, one must always, always be vigilant. Finally, Colin’s seizure — so completely personal for our family — again taught us that anyone with diabetes lives in risk. It reminded us that we need to work together as a community to assist and support people with diabetes, to create awareness and education, to advocate for research to improve treatment, to prevent the onset, and to find a cure.

The United Way of Central Massachusetts’ strategic plan has a focus upon the building blocks for a successful and productive life: Education, family stability, and health. We are proud to work with our central Massachusetts community to craft and create a health improvement plan. We are thrilled to work with UMass Memorial and UMass Medical School on the MassChild and the National Children’s Study.

We are honored to partner with Novo Nordisk, with the American Diabetes Association, and with the Diabetes Center of Excellence to bring attention and awareness to the co-joined issues of obesity and diabetes.

We remain hopeful that we will make progress, and that we will connect people and resources to improve our community.

Tim Garvin is president and CEO of the United Way of Central Massachusetts.